Covered wagons pulled by teams of oxen or mules brought whiskey, salt, bolts of calico and kegs of nails to Dallas County after journeys of several weeks from Jefferson, Shreveport, and other supply centers. This long journey meant high prices for consumers.
Lancaster Historical Society
EARLY YEARS / PREHISTORY TO 1873
Moving Beyond the Frontier
Dallas County settlements could not grow without transportation to bring in people, goods, and business opportunities. The Trinity River was no help-it was clogged with debris that formed snags to stop boats. The Republic of Texas built two "highways" through north Texas. One observer called them “universally primitive.” If a storekeeper needed new supplies, he had to make a 200-mile journey to and from Shreveport. It took 40 days by wagon. By the 1850s, travelers enjoyed stagecoach service from Dallas to several destinations, but transporting heavy goods in and out of the region was slow, expensive and inefficient.
